52lb British common is overnight reward

The 52lb 10oz specimen is a new personal best and came from A Lake (Top Lake) at the NS Fisheries Nunnery complex in Norfolk.

The Suffolk angler told Carpfeed: “It’s my third summer on the lake – I only fish the summers, mainly overnighters during the week.

Dan with his 52lb 10oz prize

“I’ve pretty much had most of the mirrors from the lake, with two before this capture, which was my third bite since June. It’s the first proper common I’ve had – the icing on the cake, really!”

“I was fishing at a short range of around 25yds in an area I’d located the carp after two or three laps. I was locked-up on the take, the rod cranked round, but it didn’t do a lot to start with. Once it woke up I knew it was one of the three bigger commons.”

“Like all my fish it was caught on a really simple bottom-bait rig, comprising a supple braid and size 4 wide-gape hook on a tiny leadclip set-up.

“For every carp I’d catch I was catching a tench, which I don’t mind as it shows the rig is effective, particularly as they are finicky feeders.”

Dan added: “The fish was spawned out during my capture – it could well be the biggest common in the country in a few years’ time!”

This common, along with all of the others Dan has landed this season, fell to Tails Up Bait Pro Marine boilies mixed with particles.